From
The Presbyterian
Coalition:
Resource: Terry Schlossberg
On
Marriage
On
Pastoral Counsel for Sexual Sin
On
Discarding any Sexuality Curricula and Materials
Not Consistent with Biblical and Confessional Teaching
From
Presbyterian
Action:
Resource: Alan
Wisdom
Seeking
a Comprehensive New General Assembly Policy Statement Regarding
the Middle East
From
Presbyterians
For Renewal:
Resource: Michael Walker
On
Amending the Form of Government to Provide a Decade of Peace Concernint
Further Amendment of G-6.0106b
On
Commending Study of the Authoritative Interpretation of 1978
From
Presbyterians Pro Life:
Resource: Marie Bowen
On
Financial Support For or Against Abortion
On
Making Support for Abortion Voluntary
On
Baptism and the Adpotion of Our Children, Both Born and Unborn
On
Late Term Pregnancy
On
Developing Support for Women and Babies in Difficult Pregnancies
Overture
Postmark Deadlines
Tips
on Writing Overtures and Seeing them Through
Overtures
are an effective way for the lower governing bodies to communicate
with the whole church in matters that concern us all. The process
may seem cumbersome, but the outcome can be significant positive change.
Renewal partners want to help with resources to support the overtures,
and help to negotiate the process.
The
overture drafts have come from a variety of sources around the church,
suggested by people concerned for reform and renewal of the Presbyterian
Church (USA). The overture drafts primarily represent an effort to
set an agenda for reform at General Assembly (G.A.) meetings. The
overtures this year emphasize several of the major concerns currently
before our denomination.
Ordinarily,
initiatives such as these overtures (and commissioner resolutions)
comprise less than 10% of the business at any General Assembly. The
bulk of business is brought by means of reports from church committees
and entities.
You
are invited to look through these drafts to see if your own concerns
are expressed here. If you find a topic or topics of interest, read
through the overture draft. Add, subtract, or reword the sections
in the “Resolve” and “Rationale” sections
so that the overture becomes tailored to the thinking of your session
on the matter. Do not retain any language with which you do not agree
or that you do not understand. However, if you agree with a draft
but need supporting data or background information, there are people
resources in renewal organizations who can help you with that. Call
the Coalition Office for assistance in contact information (407-447-2100).
A
Word about Concurrences
If you send up an overture that is close in intent and wording to
an overture from another presbytery, the Office of the G.A. will ask
if you wish to concur or withdraw. We encourage you to concur. If
you know an overture already exists on the subject, you may write
a separate rationale statement of your own. In that way your overture
will be business before the G.A., your written rationale will be additional
argument in support of the action you are seeking, and you will be
permitted to have an overture advocate speak to your overture before
the committee at G.A. It can be advantageous to show that more than
a single presbytery has the same concern. Please keep in mind that
every presbytery is made up of multiple sessions and an overture from
a presbytery always represents the majority of the sessions of a presbytery.
The drafts in this packet also can be used as a format for writing
an overture on a subject of concern that you do not find in this collection.
The Office of the General Assembly uses a format that begins with
a statement of resolve (what you are asking the G.A. to do) followed
by a statement of rationale. The examples in this collection use that
format. Overtures to G.A. from previous years can be found in the
journal of previous G.A.s.
Most
overtures begin as the work of an individual or small group
An overture is a statement that asks the G.A. to take some action.
Most overtures begin as the work of an individual or a group of people.
These individuals draft the overture and ask their sessions to approve
the overture and send it on to their presbytery for its approval.
If the presbytery approves the overture through a vote of its commissioners,
it is sent on to the G.A. It is prudent to follow up by checking with
the Office of the G.A. to be sure your overture has been received
before the deadline. It’s a good idea to check out the wording
of your overture with G.A. process veterans. This step can help avoid
unintended consequences. Many renewal partners offer this help.
There
are rules that apply to writing and submitting overtures
The rules of the G.A. require that overtures without
financial implications sent from the presbyteries and synods must
be forwarded to the Stated Clerk and must be postmarked no later than
forty-five days before the convening of the G.A. Overtures with financial
implications must be submitted no later than sixty days before the
convening of the G.A. Overtures proposing an amendment to the Constitution,
asking for interpretation of the Constitution, or dealing with authoritative
interpretation must be postmarked no later than 120 days before the
convening of the General Assembly. Overtures also may be faxed or
emailed. Be sure to verify with OGA that your overture has been received.
Overtures not received by their respective deadlines are not considered
by the G.A. They are returned to the presbytery, and you will have
to start again. Biennial Assemblies mean a much longer delay if your
overture doesn’t make the deadline. You also may be facing the
necessity of another vote by your presbytery if the deadline isn’t
met.
Knowledge
of the pertinent rules regarding overtures in the Manual of the General
Assembly, the process your own presbytery follows on overtures, and
parliamentary procedure, are all helpful in increasing the prospects
of success for an overture. Preparation to present and defend your
overture both in presbytery and at the General Assembly are essential
to the success of an overture.
The Standing Rules of the G.A. now also require consultation. The
rule says, "Presbyteries or synods submitting overtures with
a recommendations(s) that affects the work or budget of a General
Assembly entity(ies) shall submit evidence that the affected entity(ies)
has (have) been consulted. If such evidence is not submitted, the
Stated Clerk shall recommend that the overture be received and referred
to a future session of the General Assembly so that consultation may
take place.” We recommend that when your overture is sent to
the Stated Clerk, you attach a request that it be distributed to any
entity whose budget or work might be affected by it, inviting them
to consult with the presbytery regarding any comments or concerns
that they have. Make yourself available for that consultation.
Timing,
and organizing support for the overture are important
As a practical timetable, try to get your overture to your session
as early as possible since the session may choose to spend some time
studying or revising your proposal. Be aware of the meeting schedule
for your presbytery and its committees so your overture can be brought
before the presbytery in a timely manner. Sometimes both sessions
and presbyteries will want first and second readings.
At
each level (session, presbytery, and G.A.) it is possible for the
governing body to adopt, not adopt, take no action, or amend the overture.
When your session considers the overture, be sure that you or informed
session members can explain and support everything included in your
draft. Often, a presbytery committee will review the overtures and
make recommendations to the presbytery. Since questioning by that
committee will probably be thorough, be sure representatives supporting
the overture are at that meeting and are well-prepared. Before the
presbytery meets to act on the overture, it is important to know the
wording of the motion that will be used to bring the overture before
the presbytery (e.g. will it be a motion to "adopt" the
overture? a motion to "not adopt"?) so that you can help
supporters of the overture to speak effectively to the motion on the
floor during the debate and you are clear about the meaning of a "yes"
or "no" vote.
One
of the tactical points which often is neglected is the importance
of mobilizing support for the overture at the presbytery meeting where
the overture will be debated and the vote taken. It's important to
"get out the vote" in terms of voting presbytery delegates,
and it's important to put some effort into preparing delegates to
defend the overture effectively in floor debate at the meeting. Think
about planning a meeting for sympathetic presbytery commissioners
at which you can discuss points to be made in debate and how the debate
itself will be handled. Please take the time to acquaint other supportive
churches in your presbytery with the overture. Their support at the
presbytery meeting can be crucial.
When
the overture is adopted, don't consider your work done until a good
overture advocate is named.
The presbytery has the privilege of naming someone to advocate for
your overture at G.A. You will want to be prepared for that in advance.
The overture will gain a better defense at G.A. if the advocate is
not a commissioner. Those who serve as both commissioner and as overture
advocate can expect to divide their time between committee responsibilities
and advocacy responsibilities that may take the commissioner out of
committee and even to another location in order to defend the overture.
Work to have an overture advocate named who can devote full time to
being a resource to the G.A. committee considering your overture.
Rules pertaining to overture advocates are in the Manual of the General
Assembly.
Overtures are an effective way for the lower governing bodies to communicate
with the whole church in matters that concern us all. The process
may seem cumbersome, but the outcome can be significant positive change.
Renewal partners want to help with resources to support the overtures
and with help in negotiating the process.
Postmark
deadlines
for
overtures to the 217th GA, Birmingham, AL
120
day deadline:
February 15, 2006
(overtures requesting
amendment to or
interpretation of
the Book of Order)
60 day deadline:
April 17, 2006
(overtures having financial implications for current
or future budgets)
45 day deadline:
May 1, 2006
(all other overtures)
Overtures
not received by
the applicable deadline will
be returned to the originating governing body.
